AFCON 2025Q: Ghana faces Angola with cautious optimism

Ghana’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers have been far from ideal.

On Saturday, members of the country’s technical team were involved in a road accident on the Tarkwa-Takoradi highway.

The incident occurred while they were returning to Accra from Tarkwa after watching the Champion of Champions match between league winners FC Samartex 1996 and FA Cup holders Nsoatreman FC.

Although the Toyota Prado they were travelling in suffered serious dents on the driver’s side, head coach Otto Addo, second assistant John Paintsil, and goalkeeper trainer Fatau Dauda all escaped without a scratch, thankfully.

Subsequently, they were given the all-clear to resume work. A statement from the Ghana Football Association confirmed this.

“We are happy to report that all three members of the technical team are in stable condition and will undergo further medical assessments, as a precautionary measure, upon their return to Accra.

“We are confident that the technical team will be in good shape and ready to lead the Black Stars in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

“We appreciate the concern shown by the public and ask for your continued support and prayers as we prepare for these important matches,” the GFA statement read.

Indeed by Monday morning, the coaches were fit enough to superintend the Stars’ first training session at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The session lasted for an hour and thirty minutes. Otto Addo’s men trained for the first hour before the media were allowed to film the final thirty minutes. Although the session was brief, the main concern was that only ten players participated.

By Tuesday, the number had improved significantly, with up to 22 players participating in the session. As I write this on Wednesday night, Otto Addo has only had the team together for two full training sessions before the match.

But these are the problems with international football: so much time is spent travelling across continents to honour matches. So, Otto Addo has to work with what he has.

What does he have?

Ghana’s left-wing/wing-back position remains up for grabs. After enduring a love-hate relationship with the fans, Baba Rahman decided to call time on his international career.

While he may not have announced it officially, in multiple conversations with Otto Addo, Rahman has made it clear that he does not intend to play for Ghana in the foreseeable future.

That leaves Gideon Mensah, who is crocked at the moment, and Beograd’s Ebenezer Annan as the main options.

Annan’s best performances in Ghanaian colours have come when he’s been deployed as a wing-back. While he made a good impression in the two training sessions, Angola’s Gelson Dala is not the player to experiment against.

His last appearance against Ghana raised the blood pressure of nearly 40,000 fans—the number of people in the stadium that day—and, I reckon, many more outside.

Ghana’s defensive conundrum doesn’t end at left-back. Alexander Djiku’s late withdrawal due to injury means Otto Addo will be forced to select the seventh different centre-back pairing since June 2023:

1. Alexander Djiku and Daniel Amartey

2. Alexander Djiku Mohammed Salisu, and Daniel Amartey

3. Alexander Djiku and Mohammed Salisu

4. Kassim Adams and Nicholas Opoku

5. Nicholas Opoku and Daniel Amartey

6. Joseph Aidoo and Alexander Djiku

7. Daniel Amartey and Joseph Aido

To Otto Addo’s credit, he is shifting the paradigm. Since his reappointment, this will be the first time he fields a centre-back pairing other than Alexander Djiku and Mohammed Salisu in a competitive game.

Despite Djiku’s absence, there’s not much to be concerned about.

The expectation is that Rayo Vallecano’s Abdul Mumin, who has had a remarkable start to the season in Spain, can put in a solid performance.

Mumin has patiently waited for his opportunity, which came when he stepped off the bench to stop the leak against a rampant Central African Republic at right-back.

While he may have enjoyed winning the admiration of Ghanaians, this is the moment he’s been waiting for since making his debut.

There are two other issues for Otto to ponder.

Elisha Owusu has muscle problems and may need an injection to be able to play.

Meanwhile, Jordan Ayew, Ghana’s top scorer this year with eight goals, only joined the team on Wednesday—with permission from the coach, it must be noted.

Regardless, Ghana has quite a lot to be positive about.

Abdul Fatawu Issahaku has taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to water. He is gliding through defenses with ballet-like elegance, interspersed with productivity and good work ethic.

Antoine Semenyo has scored and created two goals in three appearances for Bournemouth, while Jordan Ayew also scored in only his second game for Leicester City since joining from Crystal Palace.

But Angola has its men to be feared, too.

Apart from Gelson Dala who has already scored and assisted in three games for Al-Wakrah, Fredy Kulembe and the stubborn Cristovao Mabulu need to be watched.

Mabulu announced himself to the continent with three goals, including a magnificent one against Namibia, at the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

As we saw last time, the brain of the operation is Fredy Kulembe. His distribution and pass selection caused problems for Ghana in Chris Hughton’s first game in charge last year. He cannot be allowed as much freedom and time on the ball on Thursday.

Kiolandar Gaspar is another one to watch. The Lecce centre-back can be an imposing presence for opponents. However, he will be facing a Ghanaian team that is unbeaten in its last eight opening-day matches in AFCON qualifiers.

The four-time AFCON winners have won seven out of eight matches and have scored 25 goals with just one conceded. The only blemish in an otherwise unsullied record was a 1-1 draw with Uganda in 2013.

Current Standings

Sudan’s 1-0 win over Niger on Wednesday puts them at the top of Group F—a position Kwasi Appiah will not be eager to relinquish.

The former Ghana coach has won five out of six games in 2024, during which Sudan have conceded only one goal. Thanks to these performances, Sudan are also leading their 2026 World Cup qualifying group.

Head-to-Head

The two teams have faced each other eight times in all competitions. The Black Stars have won four, drawn three, and lost just once to the Palancras Negras. Ghana’s only defeat—a 1-0 loss—came in a 1997 AFCON qualifier in Luanda.

Team News

Apart from Alexander Djiku and Salis Abdul Samed, Ghana will be at full strength against Angola. Forwards Joseph Paintsil and Iñaki Williams—who missed the last call-up due to injury—are back in the squad